March 2010

Milo Baker Chapter

California Native Plant Society

Calendar

March 16th, 7:30 p.m.

03/06 SCCC Awards Dinner,
Sebastopol
03/09 Board Meeting
03/16 General Meeting,
Luther Burbank Art &
Garden Center
03/15 Submissions deadline:
April Newsletter
In This Issue
Calendar & Mar. Speaker
President’s Report
State CNPS News
Events/Items of Interest
Plant Sale News
Field Trips
Vegetation Workshop
Board Contacts
Plant Identification and Taxonomy Workshop
Join Lynn Houser, Milo Baker Chapter President, in a hands-on
evening program about Plant I.D. and the science of Taxonomy.
Learning the parts of a flower, being able to collect and identify
specimens in the field, and a
basic knowledge of plant
families can bring you a
botanical level of expertise
needed in land management,
rare plant monitoring (like the
Adopt-a-Vernal pool
program) and teaching others.
Bring your hand lens and a
sharp knife or
1 razor blade, and any
2 references and keys you have.
3 Lynn will bring fresh plant
4
5 material and present a
5 slideshow illustrating
5 important taxonomic
6
vocabulary, native plants of
Sonoma County, and
techniques for identifying them.
Above: Ovary position and insertion of flower parts. Superior and inferior describe the ovary;
hypogynous, perigynous, and epigynous describe the flower. Redrawn from Plant Systematics, 2nd Ed. p.
237. 1986. McGraw-Hill. By Samuel B. Jones and Arlene E. Luchsinger.

Join us for Dinner before the Meeting:

We'll gather for dinner at 6PM at Kirin Restaurant, 2700 Yulupa Ave. We hope our speaker will join
us, but we always have an enjoyable group of fellow members and a delicious Northern Chinese
meal in any case. Please contact Liz Parsons, 833-2063, lizpar8993@aol.com by March 15th if you plan
to attend.

Plant ID Hour: This month Plant ID is the whole program! Doors will be open by 7:00 p.m.
Regular Plant I.D. Hour will resume in April starting at 6:45 p.m.

General Meetings are held on the 3rd Tuesday of each month at Luther Burbank Art & Garden Center, 2050 Yulupa Avenue, Santa Rosa.
Milo Baker Chapter Board meetings start at 7:00pm, 2nd Tuesday nine months of the year, Environmental Center, 55 Ridgeway Avenue,
Suite A, Santa Rosa. The next Board meeting is February 10th. Anyone interested in the work of the chapter is welcome to attend!

resident's Report
P care of Publicity. We welcome any
March is here and
spring is on its way.
We finally have had a
wet winter, and the
grass is growing tall.
In my garden right
now (February 16th) the
showiest plant is
Fuchsia-flowered
Gooseberry, Ribes
speciosum, shown here.
After about four years
in the backyard
(purchased at our plant sale), this shrub reliably
blooms heavily in winter with very leafy stems;
goes dormant in summer, and then puts little
green buds out in August and September, giving
me hope that it will come back all green and red
again. Very thorny, but just about the only Ribes
I have been able to grow in my NW Santa Rosa
clay soil, and very striking. Special thanks to
Slow for the illustration.
At our February meeting, attended by about 45
people, we heard from Rick Taylor of Elder Creek
Landscapes, which uses ecologically-minded
landscape design. We learned about rain gardens
and reducing our impact in pollution and runoff,
water conservation and filtration, and attracting
wildlife with landscaping. I’d like to thank
Program Chair April Owens for setting up such a
great line of speakers. April would like to extend
the invitation to our members to help with
contacts and the general meeting. She is unable
to attend on Tuesdays, and would like to see the
program filled with good speakers and someone
to announce them. I have been doing the
announcing for some time, but I often get caught
up at the Plant I.D. Hour table and that starts us
past 7:30. Liz is still our wonderful host at the
Kirin restaurant on Yulupa before the meetings
and Becky Montgomery brings a warm smile and
tasty refreshments. With Jim Piercy taking care
of finances, Wendy Smit with books and t-shirt
sales, and Gary taking care of the “AV,” our
meetings are always fun and welcoming to new
members. Leia Giambastiani takes
free media outlets to advertise our
meetings and field trips. At the last
meeting, we had our two most
recent scholarship recipients, Andy
Kleinhessellink and Susan Margoli,
in the audience. We hope to hear
back from Andy at a general
meeting program soon on his
research. Thanks to all our
volunteers who make our meetings
and our chapter successful! The
Website committee is formed and
will be meeting on a Wednesday or
Thursday evening (probably at the
Environmental Center), to discuss
the website revamp. Your ideas are
welcome at housers@sonic.net.
We welcome Linda Ramos as our
Newsletter Editor! Just before the
board meeting, I got an email from
Linda, who’s lived in Santa Rosa for
about a year but has been a CNPS
member for a while, about gardening
in clay and the Newsletter position.
Our newsletter is our voice to our
members and the public. If you have
articles or events that you’d like to
have featured, please email Linda at
cnpsmbnewsletter@yahoo.com by
the 15th of the month. Your content
makes it a good publication, and that
includes illustrations, photos, and fun
stuff like puzzles and poetry. Send
her your creativity! Now Katy
Redmon can focus on Legislative
issues while our mailings continue to
our members.
The state Chapter Council meeting
will be held again in Claremont (S.
CA) March 13th. Wendy Smit will be
attending as alternate delegate; she
may see some green hills down there
in the tall San Gabriel Mountains. If
you are interested in attending, you
can find information about the state
meeting at
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http://sites.google.com/site/cnpschaptercouncildec200
9/. Kevin Bryant, the Chapter Council Chair (from
the Santa Clara Valley Chapter) has made it really
easy to find this information, learn the agenda,
register for meals, and meet other CNPS members.
We have many field trips scheduled for spring and
a vegetation workshop at Pepperwood in May, so
mark your calendar. If there are places you want to
see or if you want to lead a trip, please contact
Cindy Tancreto or Cassandra Liu. Get out and see
the flowers; it ought to be a good year and very
different from the dry January and cold March like
the last few years. You can learn a lot of plants
hanging out with CNPS!
Speaking of learning plants, classroom training
from the Adopt a Vernal Pool with the Laguna
Foundations’ Citizen Scientist program takes place
March 2nd and March 10th at the Laguna Treatment
Plant from 6:00-8:00 p.m. Unfortunately, I just
learned that the CNPS funds we have applied for
to collaborate for this program (June Bilisoly
bequest) were NOT approved. Donations to the
Laguna Foundation are highly encouraged and
tax-deductible. Your field time and expertise is
needed to keep this high-quality citizen scientist
program going for the fourth
year. Go to www.citizen-
science.org for more
information and sign up; you
can enter your data on-line!
ºLynn Houser
tate News
S interested in participating in using this
Chapter Council Meeting
The State Chapter Council meeting is March 13th and 14th
in Claremont, CA (Southern California). The Keynote
Speaker at the Saturday night banquet will
be Patrick S. Larkin, Executive Director for
the Rancho Santa Ana Botanic Garden. He
will discuss RSABG’s Seed Collection and
Storage program. On Sunday, you can take a
field trip to Whitewater Canyon Preserve,
hosted by the Riverside/San Bernardino
Chapter. The Preserve is located north of
Palm Springs at the western edge of the
Colorado Desert and has a diversity of
vegetation, including rare species such as
the endangered triple-ribbed milk vetch
(Astragalus tricarinatus). The Whitewater
River runs through the Canyon,
supporting desert and riparian
vegetation. Tour the preserve and take a
leisurely hike up the Canyon to explore
the native flora and dramatic landscapes.
For more info visit the website:
http://sites.google.com/site/cnpschapte
rcounsildec2009/.
CNPS Education Program for Youth
CNPS is developing
youth programs that
will encourage
children of all ages to
get outside and
explore nature. Using
a curriculum of drawing, field sketching
and writing created by John Muir Laws,
author of The Laws Guide to the Sierra
Nevada and Sierra Birds: a Hiker’s Guide,
teachers and others who work with
children will be able to introduce their
students and youth to the full spectrum
of nature, including plants and animals.
Drawing exercises, games and short
videos will help students gain confidence
in their drawing and sketching skills as
well as develop their powers of
observation. Prior knowledge of botany
or knowing plant names is not required
to teach the curriculum. If you are
program, please contact Josie Crawford
at jcrawford@cnps.org.
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Events and Items of Interest
Riverkeeper Stewardship Park
Volunteer Days –help restore the riverbank.
Wednesday mornings in Guerneville 16153 Main St. just
upstream from the pedestrian bridge. Contact
VictoriaWikle@usa.net or 865-2474 or
russianriverkeeper.org, or Don McEnhill,
rrkeeper@sonic.net. or 217-4762.
The 34th Annual Sonoma County
Environmental Awards Dinner
March 6, Saturday 5:30-9pm
Sebastopol Veterans’ Auditorium. See
www.envirocentersoco.org for ticket info. Brock Dolman
of OAEC Water Institute, will speak on gray water, ag
conservation, ground water, city innovations, and more.
Evelina Molina will MC. Gourmet local dinner by A la
Heart Catering and live music. Benefits the Environmental
Center and SCCC, the coalition of local environmental
groups including Milo Baker CNPS, formed to share
resources and facilitate collaboration.
Cunningham Marsh Work Days
Cunningham Marsh is a 19-acre
conservation easement and home to the
endangered Pitkin Lily. We are having
two work days this year: Sundays, April
4 and May 2 from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. The
work would involve careful weeding
within the Lily exclosures, hardware removal around
existing native plants and protection of oaks. We really
need your help. Please bring water, gloves, long pants,
boots, hat, and your favorite cutting or digging tool. We
do have gloves and a few small tools. As parking is
limited, please meet at the Safeway store on Hwy 116
(Healdsburg Ave.) in Sebastopol on the Rite-Aid side of
the Safeway parking lot for carpooling. If you are able to
help for a few hours, or if you have any questions, please
contact Marcia Johnson at owlsnest@hughes.net or at
707-829-3808.
cnps.milobaker.outings@gmail.com
Invasive Plant Removal
As part of the project that erected a bridge joining Doran
and Bird Walk Parks in Bodega Bay, several areas were
restored to native vegetation through new plantings.
Now, one of those areas is threatened by a large creeping
patch of ice plant (Carprobrotus edulis). Come join me on
Sun. Mar. 21 at 9 am to remove this
invasive plant. I can provide 5 five gal
buckets, 5 pairs of gloves and 5 pruning
shears. If you can bring more (especially
buckets) that would be great! If you have
a kneeling pad or strap-on knee pads, it
will be a plus. I'm figuring half a day will
be all we'll want to do. Contact Dea Freid
at lemuria@sonic.net if you'd like to
participate. We'll meet at the first dirt
parking lot at Doran Park. The $6 entry
fee will be waived for participants. Note: I
have also been removing ice plant from
the marsh at Doran where it is occupying
the same habitat favored by Cordylanthus
maritimus ssp palustris (Salt Marsh Bird's
Beak) a 1 B listed plant. This task is huge
and I can't do it all alone! I would
welcome any assistance you might offer.
Dates and times can be arranged to suit
your schedule.
WeLoveBirds.org
The Natural Resources Defense Council
(NRDC) and the Cornell Lab of
Ornithology launched a new social
networking website in February.
WeLoveBirds.org is an interactive
online community for bird enthusiasts.
The site, designed for people who are
passionate about birds, offers access to
information on birds and birding from
a leading ornithology lab and an
opportunity to make a positive
difference for birds and their habitats.
“Given the many threats to birds, they
need all the help they can get,” said Susan
Casey-Lefkowitz, NRDC senior attorney.
“WeLoveBirds.org gives bird-lovers a
place to share information and make a
difference.”
iGROW Program
The Sonoma County Department of
Health Services has launched iGROW to
promote growing, eating and sharing
healthy food. The web site
www.igrowsonoma.org has extensive
information ad resources for growing and
finding fresh, local produce. Check it out
and join the movement to grow a garden
on every block.
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 evaluate vegetation in the preserve
for a long-term monitoring plan.

lant Sale News

P WHO SHOULD ATTEND?:
Lay and professional botanists, ecologists,
resource managers, conservationists, and
Design a t-shirt! See your favorite native plant or flower
as wearable art. In addition to our ever popular Oak t- plant-enthusiasts. Participants should have
shirt design, we would like to create another design for basic plant identification skills.
this year’s plant sale. Submit your ideas to editor,
cnpsmbnewsletter@yahoo.com. TRIP LEADERS:
Julie Evens -- CNPS Lead Vegetation
Ecologist
Peter Warner -- botanical consultant
ield Trips
F LOCATION AND MEETING PLACE:
High Points of Pepperwood
March 6 Saturday 9am-3pm
brownpapertickets.com/event/88464 COST:
Join Peter Leveque as he explores the natural history of $25 for CNPS members, $40 for non-members
the Pepperwood Preserve from some of the highest
elevation locations, including Telegraph Hill and
Grouse Hill. Meet at the barn with water, lunch, hiking EQUIPMENT LIST: Please Bring the
and rain gear for a rigorous hike on rough, uneven Following Equipment/Supplies:
terrain. • Clipboard
• Notebook and pencil/pen
See pepperwoodpreserve.org for more details and
additional upcoming events.
• Sturdy boots and field clothes
appropriate for conditions
• Water
CNPS Vegetation Sampling Workshop
• Bag lunch
hosted by the Pepperwood Preserve • Snacks
May 7 and 8, 2010
Optional Items:
Please join the California Native Plant Society • Compass and/with clinometers
(CNPS), Pepperwood Preserve, and CNPS Milo • Binoculars
Baker Chapter for a two-day vegetation workshop. • Digital camera
We will review the recently released second edition • GPS unit
of A Manual of California Vegetation (Sawyer, Keeler-
Wolf, and Evens 2009), and provide initial training RSVP/QUESTIONS/CARPOOL
in the CNPS rapid assessment and relevé INFORMATION:
vegetation sampling protocols. Please contact Peter Warner:
phytopagan@gmail.com
Participants will learn about the essential role of
vegetation inventories and classification in
Pepperwood Preserve:
ecological management and conservation, and we
will practice compiling data in support of widely
adopted classification standards and fine-scale
mapping. We will assist the Pepperwood preserve
in documenting some of their common and rare
habitats such as annual and perennial grasslands
and serpentine chaparral, as they plan to re-

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 Milo Baker Chapter Officers & Board of Directors 2009-10 We invite you to join CNPS
President, Lynn Houser, 568-3230, housers@sonic.net
Vice President, Liz Parsons, 833-2063, LizPar8993@aol.com Name________________________________
Secretary, Patricia Sesser, 528-9197, ptrisha@sbcglobal.net
Treasurer, Jim Piercy, 539-3441, terrapenecarolinamajor@yahoo.com Address______________________________
Book Sales, Wendy Smit, 431.7913, wendysmit@hughes.net
Conservation Chair, Michael Hogan, Hmilobakerflora@gmail.comH City/Zip______________________________
Cunningham Marsh, Marcia Johnson, 829-3808, owlsnest@hughes.net
Director at Large, Lea Davis, 538-1499 Phone________________________________
Director at Large, Beth Robinson, 490-4951, Hbethysmail@gmail.com
Director at Large, Joan Schwan, 823-0446, jschwan@sonic.net Email________________________________
Field Trips, Cindy Tancreto, 528-9225, Hcindytancreto@pacbell.net Chapter affiliation:
Field Trips, Cassandra Liu † Milo Baker (Sonoma County)
Hospitality, Becky Montgomery, 573-0103, montyb@sonic.net † Other county ______________________
Hospitality, Liz Parsons, 833-2063, lizpar8993@aol.com Membership category:
Invasive Plant Chair, ML Carle, 792-1823, mlml@sonic.net † Student or Limited Income…….… $25
Legislative Chair, Katy Redmon, 762-3961, trypledee@comcast.net † Individual………………………….$45
Membership/WebAdmin., Gary Hundt, 542-4972, Hghundt@gmail.com † Family, Group or Library………….$75
Newsletter Editor, Linda Ramos, Hcnpsmbnewsletter@yahoo.com † Plant Lover………………….……$100
Photography, Gary Hundt, Hmuddyknees.smugmug.comH, click Flowers † Patron…………………………….$300
Plant Sale, Liz Parsons, 833-2063, lizpar8993@aol.com † Benefactor………………………..$600
Poster & T-Shirt Sales, Wendy Smit, 431.7913, wendysmit@hughes.net † Mariposa Lily………………… ..$1500
Programs/Lectures, April Owens, 528-3387,Aprilleeowens@yahoo.com
Publicity, Leia Giambastiani, 322-6722, leiagia@gmail.com † New Member † Renewal
Rincon Ridge Park, Patricia Sesser, 528-9197, ptrisha@sbcglobal.net
SCCC Rep., Wendy Krupnick, 544-4582, wendyk@pon.net Make check payable to CNPS and mail to:
Southridge Preserve, Jeffery Barrett, Hbarrett8@sonic.net CNPS, 2707 K Street, Sacramento, CA 95816
SRJC Representative: OPEN
SSU Rep., Frederique Lavoipierre, 829-0751, lavoipie@sonoma.edu To pay by credit card or for more info call
Vine Hill Preserve, Sarah Gordon, 833-1243, HSarahpgordon@gmail.com 916.447.2677 or visit www.cnps.org

NON-PROFIT
CALIFORNIA NATIVE PLANT SOCIETY ORGANIZATION
Milo Baker Chapter www.cnpsmb.org U.S. Postage Paid
P.O. Box 892 Santa Rosa, CA
Santa Rosa, CA 95402 Permit #470

Lilium pardalinum ssp. pitkinense

Pitkin lily

Newsletter & Web Site Info:

Send newsletter submissions to:
Editor, cnpsmbnewsletter@yahoo.com
Deadline for inclusion in the April
Newsletter is March 15.
The chapter web site www.cnpsmb.org
contains a wealth of information plus
current and archived newsletters.
To receive notification of the online newsletter,
or for newsletter mailing/membership issues,
contact: Gary Hundt, ghundt@gmail.com

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